"Of the challenges that GNU/Linux users face when choosing
hardware components for any system is the sound card compatibility.
ALSA, or officially known as Advanced Linux Sound Architecture, provides
much of the audio and MIDI functionality to Linux users and is largely
replacing OSS (Open Sound System). Today we are examining Linux audio
performance in the gaming environment with a slew of various sound cards
by examining their effect on frame-rate performance. The contenders are
Creative Labs Sound Blaster Audigy 2 Z3, Creative Labs Sound Blaster
Audigy 2, Chaintech AV-710, Aureal Vortex (AU8820), and AC'97 integrated
audio."